Laikhurembi is a goddess in
Sanamahism
Sanamahism , also known as Meiteism , or Lainingthouism is an ethnic religion of the Meitei people of Manipur, in Northeast India. It is a polytheistic religion and is named after Lainingthou Sanamahi, one of the most important deities of ...
, the indigenous religion of
Manipur
Manipur () is a state in northeastern India with Imphal as its capital. It borders the Indian states of Assam to the west, Mizoram to the south, and Nagaland to the north and shares the international border with Myanmar, specifically t ...
.
She is the goddess of justice, good counsel, divine law, order and secrecy.
[Folk Culture of Manipur - Page 194 - Moirangthem Kirti Singh · 1993] She is the chief Queen of God
Thongaren ().
She is the daughter of Lairen Humchouba.
She is one of the divine incarnations of
Leimarel Sidabi
Leimarel Sidabi or Leimalel Sitapi is a goddess in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. She is the highest female divinity in the Meitei pantheon. She is the goddess of earth, of nature and the household. She is revered as the mothe ...
.
She is one of the most important
Umang Lai
Umang Lai () refers to a group of ancient Meitei deities of the traditional Meitei religion (Sanamahism) who are worshipped as the local guardians of particular areas, especially sacred groves. These deities are worshipped annually. Their Sac ...
s. Her pantheon is maintained particularly by the Taibungjam clan of
Meitei ethnicity
The Meitei people, also known as Meetei people,P.20: "historically, academically and conventionally Manipuri prominently refers to the Meetei people."P.24: "For the Meeteis, Manipuris comprise Meeteis, Lois, Kukis, Nagas and Pangal." are a Ti ...
.
History and Origin
According to the
Poireiton Khunthok, Laikhurembi () was the chief queen of
Thongaren (). This book talks about her body in ways that show her personality. They say she had a wide mouth, which means she was loud or boastful. They say she had small breasts, which meant she used her heart less than she used her head; she was a thinking person and not a feeling person. They say she had sideways eyes, meaning she did not look at people straight on.
Laikhurembi is the daughter of Lai-ren (Chief of Lai) Humchouba.
Queen Laikhurembi was the first wife of King
Thongaren. Then king asked her to marry his younger brother,
Poireiton
Chingkhong Poireiton is a prince of the Khamnung (underworld kingdom) and a younger brother of Thongaren, the god of death in Meitei mythology and Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. He is best known as a cultural hero
...
, instead, because Poireiton's wife had died. Poireiton was beginning a journey to Tai Pang Pan (an old name for Manipur) and King Thongalel thought it would not be good for Poireiton to go without a wife. However, Laikhurembi did not want to go. Trees had already been planted to honor her as the King's wife. Instead of Laikhurembi, Thongalel sent his second wife
Leinaotabi
Leima Lainaotabi is a goddess in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. She is the youngest wife of God Thongalel of the underworld kingdom (). Thongalel sent her to be the wife of Poireiton, her brother-in-law. Lainaotabi gave bir ...
.
Description
The Goddess Laikhurembi had special powers. She was ''yungyatnaba'' (lit. ''erect and sharp'') which meant she could see objects accurately no matter how far away they were. She could look at a person and see who he or she truly was inside. When she made a judgement, she would announce her verdict wisely, and give people their just rewards.
No one could find the Goddess Laikhurembi unless she wanted them to find her. No matter how hard a person would look, she could hide and stay hidden.
Cult
There is a temple dedicated to Goddess Laikhurembi in
Uripok town in
Imphal West district
Imphal West district (Meitei language, Meitei pronunciation:/ˈɪmfəl or ɪmˈfɑːl/) is one of the sixteen districts of Manipur state in northeastern India. As of 2011, it is the most populous district in the state.
Geography
Lamphelpat city ...
. During the
Lai Haraoba
Lai Haraoba (, ), also known as Umang Lai Haraoba, is a classical,———— ritualistic, theatrical dance and music festival, annually celebrated by the Meitei people, to please the Umang Lai deities of the traditional Meitei religion (San ...
festival of Uripok, a carnival-like atmosphere accompanies the traditional, sacred rituals. During the noisy, festive occasion,
maibis dance to the gentle music of the
pena. The
maibis became possessed by the spirits when the music stops andact as
oracle
An oracle is a person or thing considered to provide insight, wise counsel or prophetic predictions, most notably including precognition of the future, inspired by deities. If done through occultic means, it is a form of divination.
Descript ...
s.
See also
*
Yumjao Leima
References
{{Sanamahi1
Meitei goddesses
Death goddesses